Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythrophthalmus (Wilson, A, 1811) (1, 15)

Photo © Rob Stonehouse

STATUS

Nearctic. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

One spring record 22nd to 31st May 2016. The autumn records span from 18th September (2017) to 6th November (1950).

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RECORDS

1). 1932 Isles of Scilly Tresco, immature, picked up dead after hitting wall, 27th October, photo, now at Isles of Scilly Museum.

(G. C. Low, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 53: 77, 88-90, 97, 98; Eds., British Birds 27: 111-112; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 7; Penhallurick, 1978; C. Bradshaw, British Birds 96: 403; BOURC (2003), Ibis 145: 178-183; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 85).

2). 1950 Argyll Achnaslishaig Hill, Southend, Kintyre, first-winter, 6th November, found dead, 8th November, now at Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery, Glasgow (GLAMG Z.1950.132).

(C. E. Palmar & T. Robertson, Scottish Naturalist 63: 131-132; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 7; Thom, 1986; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

3). 1953 Shetland Foula, picked up exhausted, 11th October, died 12th October, now at Natural History Museum, Tring (BMNH 1953.69.1).

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 2: 8-9; R. W. Sims, Scottish Naturalist 65: 196; K. Williamson, Scottish Naturalist 66: 16-17; R. W. Sims, British Birds 47: 173-174; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 7; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 67: 102; E. E. Jackson, Scottish Birds 4: 43; Thom, 1986; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

4). 1965 Cornwall Gweek, moribund, 30th October.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 60: 334).

5). 1967 Devon Lundy, first-winter male, 19th October, found dead 20th October, now at Leicester Museum.

(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 346; Davis & Jones, 2007).

6). 1975 Cleveland/Yorkshire Locke Park, Redcar, trapped, 23rd to 24th September.

(J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 342).

7). 1982 Isles of Scilly St Agnes, juvenile, 29th August; same, near Campsite, found dead, 30th August, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 502-503; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 85).

8). 1982 Devon Barnstaple, first-winter, caught 21st October, released 22nd October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 77: 537).

9). 1982 Isles of Scilly Borough/Telegraph area, St Mary's, 21st to 22nd October; same, Hugh Town, 23rd October, found dead on 24th October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 502-503).

10). 1982 Cheshire & Wirral Red Rocks, Hoylake, Wirral, first-winter, 30th October, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 77: 537, plate 216).

11). 1985 Isles of Scilly Porthloo Lane, St Mary's, first-winter, 12th October, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 79: 558, plate 276; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 86).

12). 1989 At sea Sea area Forties, Maureen oil platform, 58°08'N 01°42'E, found exhausted 30th September, taken into care, released 1st October, photo.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 469-470; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007: photo).

13). 1990 Isles of Scilly Trenoweth, St Mary's, 10th October, dead, 11th October.

(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 478).

14). 2014 Orkney Holland House, North Ronaldsay, first-winter, 23rd October.

(M. Warren, Scottish Birds 35: 87-88; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 595).

15). 2016 Outer Hebrides Loch Sandary, North Uist, 2CY+, 22nd to 31st May, photo.

(British Birds 109: plate 242; R. Levett, Scottish Birds 36: 269-272 , plates 234, 236-238; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 591, plate 318).

16). 2017 Shetland Dale of Walls, Mainland, 1CY, 18th September, photo.

(R. Tallack, Scottish Birds 38: 76-77, plate 67; British Birds 110: plate 387; C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 111: 586, plate 376).